A kitchen a makeover doesn't need to have a big cost to leave a big impact. Painting your kitchen cabinets is a relatively affordable and fast option if you want to upgrade your kitchen yourself. All you need is a vision and a fresh coat of paint to rejuvenate your cooking space.

When deciding if you should salvage old materials, it's important to know what you are getting yourself into. Choosing the right color and the correct method could make all the difference. Painting cabinets can be low cost, but it also requires a lot of work and planning to attain a desirable outcome.

To help you decide if you should take on the challenge, we've found 20 painted cabinet before and after photos that illustrate a complete transformation. Even the most outdated cabinets have the potential to be brought back to life. Once you have a concept in mind, check out our pros and cons of painting kitchen cabinets to uncover what to expect when it comes to the cost and time commitment involved in taking on your project. If you opt to install new kitchen cabinets, consider pre-assembled kitchen cabinets for easier installation.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: Before and After

Sultry White Makeover

A few coats of white paint gives this kitchen a fresh feel. From the flooring to the cabinets, the original kitchen was overpowered by light wood. To create a contrast with darker flooring, paint your cabinets white. This will add depth to the room and make it more visually appealing.

Two-Toned Transformation

Two-toned cabinets are a trend that never goes out of style. Ground the bottom kitchen cabinets with a darker color while painting the top ones lighter to make the room feel taller. This design will allow your creativity to show by choosing the colors that speak to you the most.

Luminous White Kitchen

The red walls and brown cabinets featured in the original kitchen left the room feeling dark. Painting the cabinets white and adding a textured backsplash helped open up the room. Try lighter colors that reflect natural light, leaving the room feeling brighter and more welcoming.

Dreary Turned Designer

This original kitchen featured in Apartment Therapy had a narrow and dated feel. With a simple coat of white paint and a decorative counter, the whole room is modernized and brought to life. To bring your design to the next level, play with patterns that will introduce color to the room such as a kitchen rug or dish towel.

Mixed Textures

The transition from wood to gray gives this kitchen a more modern and rustic feel. Matching the color of the cabinets with the mosaic tiles in the backsplash creates cohesion in the space. To keep the room from feeling too dark, keep the wall above the kitchen cabinets white.

A Modern Makeover

The details in these beadboard cabinets become much more noticeable after a few coats of paint. To update the look of your cabinets, replace dark iron cabinet handles with modern long bar nickel handles.

Cute Cottage Kitchen

A light teal kitchen color scheme will show off your unique personality. By using both blue and white hues in these two-toned cabinets, the room remains light but still has contrast. Play around with design by trying different curtain patterns under the sink.

Bold To Beautiful

The deep orange cabinets steal the show in this original kitchen. By toning the color down with white paint, other details such as the tile flooring become more noticeable. Install a counter that calls attention to the kitchen's best attributes. This dark wood countertop highlights the natural colors in the flooring.

Create a Contrast

If your cabinets are already painted, it doesn't mean you have to commit to the color. This neutral color in the before photo blends right into the countertop. If you already have the advantage of natural light, add contrast in the kitchen by painting the cabinets a darker hue.

A Burst Of Color

If you want to paint your cabinets a fun color, try something that has a bright hue. The golden-green color in this room contrasts with the black walls, keeping the space lively. To make sure the color will work well in the space, try painting test colors on the wall ahead of time.

Constructing a Modern Look

This victorian style kitchen got a modern makeover when the cabinets were painted gray. If you are looking for a contemporary color that isn't as harsh as black and white, a shade of gray will help you reach that middle ground. Try updating your barstools as well to complement your new kitchen's look.

Reviving Retro

A formerly dark and dated room is shown in a new light after the cabinets are transformed by white paint. If you want to brighten the room but also are looking to add some character to your kitchen, try a patterned white wall. This will keep the kitchen glowing while adding depth.

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets

If you want to make your small kitchen feel larger, a basic color scheme could be the answer. The before and after of these chalk painted cabinets clearly show how open the room feels. The details in the lighting and kitchen rug are more visible with a black and white background.

Adding Natural Elements

Natural wood can give the room an earthy look, but when there's too much it gets overwhelming. If you want an organic feel, try painting your cabinets white, keeping a natural wood floor and adding some living plants to the space.

Brilliant Blue Revamp

Match your cabinets to your style and personality. These turquoise painted cabinets add a fun splash of color. To open up the room, the owners removed some old cabinets, but strategically added a pop of color to the remaining ones for the perfect balance.

Custom Coffee Nook Renewal

If you aren't sure if you want to commit to painting all your cabinets, start with one. This coffee nook is removed from the rest of the kitchen but still benefits from a fresh makeover. If you like the results of the before and after cabinet painting transformation, you can move on to the rest of your kitchen.

Depth in the Details

To create depth, paint the cabinet doors a different color than the rest of the cabinets. This green color is much more appealing against a white background. For this to create the desired effect, it's important to make sure the colors contrast and aren't too similar in tone.

Organized and Bright

In a kitchen that already gets a good amount of natural light, darker two toned cabinets could be the best option. If your chairs are feeling dated as well, paint them the same color as the cabinets. This will turn a basic kitchen into a cohesive and welcoming space.

Deep Green Design

The light wood of the kitchen before the renovation brings in light, but the transformation to a dark green creates a bold statement. Utilize a lighter tone of the same color in the backsplash to really cause the cabinets pop.

Sophisticated Style

If your room is lacking a color scheme, try a monochromatic approach. The dark gray coloring of the lower cabinets in this room is complimented by light gray walls. To keep the look clean and sophisticated, consider a crisp white countertop.

You don't want to start painting your kitchen cabinets without a vision in mind. Determine which style works best with the space you have before picking up a paint brush. If you feel overwhelmed with the process and don't love the design of your existing cabinets, consider purchasing pre-assembled kitchen cabinets to modernize your kitchen.

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